RoHS Certification: Meaning, Requirements and Registration Process

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RoHS Certification: Meaning, Requirements and Registration Process

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Preface: This post was originally published in 2018 and has been updated on September 02, 2025, to provide you with the most current and accurate information.

RoHS full form is Restriction of Hazardous Substances. It is a directive that was first adopted by the European Union in February 2003. It restricts the use of certain hazardous substances found in electrical and electronic equipment. 

In this blog post, we shall explain what is RoHS certification and how you can get this certification in India.

What is RoHS Certification?

RoHS certification full form is Restriction of Hazardous Substances Certification. This certification confirms that electrical and electronic equipment complies with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive.

This certificate ensures that electrical and electronic equipment limits toxic substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium, to protect human health and safeguard the environment from toxic substances during the product's lifecycle. 

For sale, production or distribution of electrical and electronic equipment destined for the market, it is essential to ensure compliance with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive.

Substances Restricted under RoHS 

As per RoHS directive, all electrical and electronic equipment must comply with restrictions on the use of the following listed substances unless they fall under a specific exemption:-

  1. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)

  2. Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB)

  3. Hexavalent Chromium (CrVI)

  4. Cadmium (Cd)

  5. Mercury (Hg)

  6. Lead (Pb)

Products Requiring RoHS Certification

The following are some common products that require RoHS certificate:-

  1. Consumer Electronic items. These include tablets, smartphones, laptops, TVs and gaming consoles.

  2. Household Appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators.

  3. Lighting equipment like bulbs and LED lights

  4. Electronic medical equipment like monitors, diagnostic tools and imaging devices.

  5. Toys and leisure equipment like electronic toys, hobby gadgets and sports equipment having electronic parts.

  6. Industrial equipment incl. machinery and devices used during manufacturing that have electronic control and monitoring systems.

  7. Electrical tools like power tools, hand tools with electrical parts and gardening tools (incl. electric lawnmowers).

  8. IT and telecom equipment such as computers, printers and routers.

Products Exempted under RoHS

The following products are some common products that are exempted under the RoHS rules:-

  1. Military and National Defence products

  2. Products not relying on electricity as their major source of energy

  3. Sub-assembly/component of an exempted product category

  4. Batteries

  5. Radioactive waste

  6. Cables and wires

  7. Certain implantable devices may get exemption due to special material needs.

  8. Monitoring and control instruments may get exemption in some cases

RoHs Certification Requirements

To obtain RoHS certification, the manufacturers/importers are required to prepare and submit essential documents that prove the product does not contain restricted hazardous substances. The required documents include the following:-

How to get RoHS Certification in India?

To get RoHS certification in India, you need to follow the steps explained below:

Step 1: Collection of Necessary Documents

You must collect all the necessary documents for securing the certificate. These documents include bills and materials declarations, assembly drawings, compliance declaration or certificate of conformity, test results, etc. 

Create one complete file with all the documents you require for the RoHS registration process for RoHS review. Once you collect the documents, you can go ahead and file an application with the accredited certification body.

Step 2: Checking of Restricted Chemicals

In this step, the restricted chemicals are checked to ensure they are within the permissible limits. There are two main methods for testing the restricted substances, namely, on-site testing and lab testing. During on-site testing, portable x-ray fluorescence analyzers are used for quick, non-destructive screening of metals like leads, cadmium and mercury at the manufacturing unit directly. 

In the second method, i.e., lab testing, the definitive chemical analysis is performed in NABL-accredited laboratories, following the IEC 62321 series standards. The testing techniques utilized include Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and others for accurately measuring the restricted toxic substances. Then, the test results from lab reports are compared against RoHS limits to ensure product’s safety and compliance.

Step 3: Analysis of the Finished Product

In this step, inspection is conducted for finished products as well as the factory where they are produced. To ensure RoHS regulations are followed, the manufacturing unit is checked. 

While testing the finished products, their results are compared against the permissible limits within RoHS like: (i) Lead (Pb) - 0.1% w/w, (ii) Cadmium (Cd) - 0.01% w/w, (iii) Mercury (Hg) - 0.1% w/w, (iv) Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+) - 0.1% w/w, (v) Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB) / Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE) - 0.1% w/w and (vi) Restricted phthalates - 0.1% w/w.

While inspection of the manufacturing facility, quality checks and processes are made. To ensure products ensure continuous compliance with RoHS standards, some agencies can conduct yearly inspections. 

Step 4: Grant of RoHS Certificate

After the product passes all audits and checks, you obtain the final RoHS registration certificate. The certificate signifies that your product is compliant with RoHS rules.

Conclusion

RoHS certificate is crucial for sale, production or distribution of electrical and electronic equipment. Securing this certificate ensures compliance with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive and makes sure the equipment is not a threat to public safety and health.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What are the restricted toxic substances under the RoHS directive?

A. The toxic substances restricted under RoHS are: Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE), Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB), Hexavalent Chromium (CrVI), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg) and Lead (Pb).

Q2. When and where was the RoHS directive first introduced?

A. The RoHS directive was first introduced in 2002 in the European Union. It came into effect in 2003.

Q3. What is the full form of RoHS?

A. The full form of RoHS is Restriction of Hazardous Substances.

Q4. Which type of equipment does the RoHS apply to?

A. RoHS applies to electrical and electronic equipment.

 

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